Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-07-15

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THE PATRIOT TELLING HIS STORY.
but l could not get him to say any
thing of Cuba. He would smile at the
enthusiasm of my talk about the island
and its great possibilities and / re-
member that he once said;
"'Ah, well, Senior Henry, fear you
won't be so sanguine about poor Cuba
when you have seen as many years as
your father or myself; yet, grdcios
Dios, who can tell what may happen
l believe that Cuba has a great future
but sometimes fear that may not
live to see it. But you may
Time passed, my father died, l was
found to be almost pennlless, and l
went into the counting-house of one of
his friends. filed place at the desk
for more than two years, for which l
was perfectly capable; but the coniine-
ment was disagreeable. l had seen so
much of life and the world that |
craved change and excitement. As l
told you, l went to New Orleans last
spring. promised to tell you every
thing; but you'll excuse me if l leave
out my falling in love in Boston just
before left"
"I'il excuse nothing of the kind"
promptly interrupted the Captain.
Failing in love is the most natural
as well as the most absurd thing
youngster can do. If you're making a
clean breast of it want the whole"
"There's very little to be told Sbout
it. The lady was visiting at the home of
my employer. We met and loved.
l have her picture and she has mine.
If fortune is kind to me now that
am going to give up rowing and settle
down to hard work, shall marry
her some day. That's all about that.
"My journey to New Orleans was I'M
dertaken to look after promising
venture that my kind employer had
put me on the track of. At the Saint
Charles Hotel 1 met General Lopez
He was delighted to see me, and wc
spent the whole morning talking over
old times in Cuba. Many questions
that l asked him about people had
met there he could not answer; and
when he saw that thought strange of
it, he said, with Il laugh:
Z" The fact is, Senior Henry, I've not
been to Bella Cuba lately-that is. not
to stay. They have coniiscated my
estate there, and set a price on my
head. You surely have read of tho
unsuccessful Round Island and Carde-
mas expeditions
Why, certainly l said; but it
never occurred to me that you were tho
leader of them.
"'There's no Lopez so likely to be os
l. Yes, I'm the man. was burning
to strike for Free Cuba when you used
to talk so eloquently about our dear
isle at my home; but the time had not
then come. 1t mas now. verify be-
lieve. l have Eve bundled Cuban
refugees in this city, ready to embark.
The gallant Colonel VIII Crittenden, of
Kentucky, brings me AN hundred
more. ! am negotiating now for arms,
and striving to conceal my intentions
from the United States authorities. In
July or August l shall land on the soil
of Cuba with these patriots. The
Island will rise. Spanish oppression
will be driven out. Freedom for Cuba
will follow-perhaps annexation to
the United States. We shall see.'
at needed no urging to make mo
throw myself into this movement heart
and soul. Let me make short story
of what followed. Now that it is all
over-now that Lopez, Crittenden, and
at least an hundred of their followers
have suffered death, and two or three
hundred more are rotting in Spanish
dungeons, can talk coolly and can
didly about it. The leaders were brave
enough and enthusiastic enough; but
their bravery and enthusiasm couldn't
avail with scanty arms, poor equip
ment and no artillery. We had
many good men; some others were lit
tie better than the sweepings of New
Orleans. We landed at Morelio last
month, and met several detachments
of Spanish troops. And we whipped
them every time they came against us,
less than ten to onel But of course
this style of campaigning couldn't DO
kept up. We got no recruits; the peo-
pie wouldn't rise; our numbers were
reduced by sickness and the bullet, and
at length powerful force dispersed us,
capturing Crittenden and his detach-
ment. The General and made our
way to the mountains; we separated ore
night for safety, engaging to meet on
the morrow at certain time and place.
The next day heard of his capture. |
was working in the fields disguised
as laborer, my face stained with
preparation that got in Havana
four years ago. Three different par
ties of soldiers arrested me, examined
me and discharged me; my disguise,
my fluent use of the language, and my
knowledge of the country, made me
absolutely secure. Why, then, you will
ask, did risk appearing in Havana at
such a timer My answer is simply;
Lopez; r wanted TO be near him;
wanted to know his fate, and to assist
him, If possible. Once in the city,
there were hundred refugees where
vould hi Secure Tho ono I chose wna